CHAPTER IX.
A GRAVE QUESTION.
"I am sorry, Rob, that my answer is not what you wish it to be."
"But, Frank, think what a winter in Italy would mean to the child."
"Yes, if you can get her over there by wireless. But you speak of goingby steamer, and I need not remind you of the cold and dampness of anocean voyage at this season."
"I had not thought of that." Mr. Selwyn rose and began pacing to andfro. "How soon _will_ Mary be equal to the trip, Frank?"
"Not before the first of June at the earliest. Her recovery, judgingfrom the past two weeks, will be very, very slow. Why do you take thistrip just now? Can't you put it off for six or seven months?"
"No, Frank, that is not possible. We have been waiting for this chanceto open a branch of the business in Rome, and now that it has come, wemust act promptly."
"Then let Bryce or Ryan go. Bryce has no one but himself to think of."
"His father would have been just the man to put the thing through; butyoung Bryce is not his father by any means. For one thing, he does notknow the business well enough. Ryan says that he is too old to begin tolearn Italian; and as I have a fair knowledge of that language, hethinks I should go. I made no objection, because I thought it would be asplendid chance to take Mary away from the winter here. Do you reallythink that it would be a risk, Frank?"
"So great a risk that I am almost sure you would have a burial at sea."
"_Frank!_"
"I mean it, Rob. A mere trifle would bring on a relapse; and a long seavoyage is no trifle."
"But what are we to do? Elizabeth will never consent to my living inItaly for a year unless she and the children can be with me."
"She is right about that. Her place is with you."
"But she cannot leave Mary----"
"Why not, Rob?--You know that I would be the last one to ask thatquestion if there was any other way of solving the problem; but sincethere is not, why cannot Mary be left with me? I need not assure youthat she will be taken care of to the best of my ability."
"You have more than proved that, Frank. If she were your own child, youcould not show greater love for her. And she almost worships you."
"Yes, I flatter myself that I come a close second to you and Elizabethand the babies, and I promise to do all in my power to lessen the painof this separation for her. She is the one who will suffer most, for sheis not old enough to see the matter in the proper light. To us, a yearis only twelve short months which pass all too quickly; but to a child,it is an eternity. I am sorry that this trial should come upon her nowafter all that she has been through."
"That is just it, Frank,--not only for her but for all of us. It seems aterrible thing to be separated from her now for so long a time, when wecame so near to losing her. I am sure that Elizabeth will not consent toleave her----"
"Then Elizabeth will have to remain at home. Here she is to speak forherself."
"What plan is afoot now, gentlemen? You look as sober as judges,"laughed Mrs. Selwyn.
"An ocean voyage followed by a year in Italy is a subject for ratherserious thought, is it not?"
"No, indeed, Rob. I should say it is a very pleasant subject. Who amongour friends has this treat in store for him?"
"It happens that, in this case, the pleasure is not unmixed with pain."
"But is it not always so, Rob? Is there not a thread of sorrow runningthrough every earthly joy?"
"Yes, even our little Mary has found that out. I think I told you howperfectly happy she was over the twins; but in less than fifteenminutes, she found cause for sorrow in the fact that there was not athird baby to be called Frank."
"Yes, I remember. But you have not answered my question about ourfriends who are planning a trip to Europe."
"Your husband's name heads the list, Elizabeth; and it remains for youto decide whether he will go alone, or have the company of any othermembers of the family."
"You are joking, Frank."
"I was never more in earnest."
"I wish from my heart that he was joking, Elizabeth," and Mr. Selwynrepeated some of the facts of the case.
"And are your partners aware that your wife has not only herself butthree children to get ready for this trip? However, we shall manage. Asyou say, the pleasure will be marred to some extent by the pain ofparting from this good, old brother of ours; but after all," and Mrs.Selwyn seated herself on the arm of the Doctor's chair and ran herfingers through his hair, "a year passes quickly, and the thought thatMary is growing well and strong in the wonderful Italian climate willhelp you through the lonely hours. But, Frank," an anxious note soundedin her voice, "do you think she will be equal to the trip in anotherweek? She is doing nicely, I know, but she has not yet been up even in achair."
"No, Elizabeth, Mary will not be able to make that trip next week nornext month," the Doctor gently replied. "I have just explained to Robthat an ocean voyage for her before the first of June will, withoutdoubt, have a very sad ending."
"Why, Frank! what are we to do? I cannot think of allowing Rob to goaway alone and live hotel life for a whole year! And Mary--oh, after theagony of that awful week, I cannot bear to be parted from her now whenshe needs me so much!"
"I have just thought of a plan which I think should work pretty well. Ishall sail alone next Monday, and you and the children, with Aunt Mandy,of course, will follow me early in June."
"No, no, Rob, I cannot listen to such a plan." Mrs. Selwyn crossed theroom to her husband's side. "If it were a case of a month or six weeks,I might consider it; but I shall never consent to your living hotel lifefor half a year. What if you should become ill? Think of the time itwould take me to reach you. No, no, I must be with you. We shall find acosy little place on the outskirts of Rome and make it our home. ButMary----" and the poor little mother bowed her head on the father'sshoulder.
"Mary will be safe with me, Elizabeth," urged the Doctor. "She will beloved and cared for as if she were my own child. I shall arrange myaffairs so as to take her South to a warm, dry climate, after Christmas,and remain there until the first of May. Then, I think Maryvale will bethe best place for her with our own sister to keep a watchful eye onher. The Sisters and many of the pupils are old friends of hers, and Ishall go out to see her two or three times a week. She will havecountry air and country food; and when you return in the fall, you willnot know your tanned, rosy-cheeked little lass. Yes, Mary will be farbetter off there than alone here during the day with the servants. You,Elizabeth, will need Aunt Mandy, and I think you will find Tom veryuseful, Rob. I shall close the house and take some apartments in thebuilding where my office is. Liza will keep house for me. But I wouldadvise you to say nothing of all this to Mary before Saturday. She willbe stronger then and better able to bear the thought of separation fromyou."